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Verbs

Step in Thai

“Step” in Thai is ก้าวgâao; you'll also hear ขั้นkân (a stair; a stage).

ก้าว gâao

to step; a step verb

  • gâao falling
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”
ขั้น kân

a step (of stairs); a stage, a level noun a stair; a stage

  • kân falling
  • Falling: start high and drop clearly, like a firm “No!”

How to use it

ก้าวgâao is a step, and stepping: over a puddle, onto a boat, forward in life. The next step in a plan is ขั้นต่อไปkân dtàw bpai, and a single stair is a ขั้นบันไดkân ban-dai. In speech it sounds just like เก้าgâao, nine.

Don't mix it up

  • เก้าgâao

    nine

    The same sound, falling tone and all: nine.

Other spellings you'll see

There's no single official way to write Thai in English letters. We mark the tone of every syllable; online you'll also find:

  • kao
  • gao
  • kaow

More verbs in Thai

All verbs
  • เป็น bpen Be

    to be (a nationality, a job, a role)

  • มี mii Have

    to have

  • ไป bpai Go

    to go

  • มา maa Come

    to come

  • กิน gin Eat

    to eat

  • ดื่ม dùuem Drink

    to drink

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Written by the Learn Thai For Free team
Audio: AI voices, quality-checked for tones